UK ladies when are you taking maternity leave??

[bexbaby]

So I finished work around 2.30am and I'm only just getting into bed... I'm a supervisor in a pub so I stay late on Friday nights as we get very busy. But I'm so exhausted I'm 25 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby and this time around feels more tiring than the first. I just don't know when to take my mat leave, I know I can go off from the 19th July but don't know whether to.

My feet are swollen from these long shifts my belly is so tense and my voice is gone from shouting to customers feel like crying!!!

 

[Blu10]

Hi bex. Im a nurse and with DS I worked until 37 weeks (planned to work until 38 but they thought he was breech) and he was born at exactly 38 weeks. This time id like a couple of weeks with DS firt before baby arrives and figure 2nd time may be tougher so I would like to finish at 36 but use my holidays until 38-39 weeks unless baby arrives earlier. I want to keep my mat leave for once baby is actually here in theory x

 

[k4th]

I've found second pregnancy much more tiring too

I agree with Blu about using up as much holiday entitlement as you can & then starting mat leave at 37ish weeks if you can.

I finished work at 33 weeks with mat leave officially starting at 36+4

Can you talk to your employer too? Ask for some jobs that you can do sitting down mid-shift to give your feet a rest? Do you work for a big pub chain? They should have done a risk assessment with you - it's worth checking out to see if they can help you at all. Good luck

 

[MemmaJ]

I was going to work until I was 35 weeks, because I wanted a few weeks before baby comes to do finishing touches and make sure everything's ready...!But I've also got about 5 weeks holiday left, and I'm not allowed to carry any over to next year/when I come back, so with putting that on the front of my maternity leave, I'm going to finish around 30 weeks..!
It doesn't feel right really, lol! But in a way I'm also glad as its taking its toll already...

 

[WW1]

I'm planning to work until 36 -37 weeks so I can have most of my maternity time after baby is born but I'll see how I go. OP, if you're not coping then you should talk to your employer. They have a duty of care to look after you and modify working conditions if they are posing an issue to you or baby. If they do nothing, speak to your GP as they can provide a "fit for work" note with specified modifications to your role. The company then have to arrange the modifications or accept you'll be signed off work. (This is assuming you're in the UK as I don't know elsewhere). I hope you get something sorted.

 

[BabyJayne]

Officially at 38 weeks but have three weeks holiday to take so I will be just past 34 weeks. I'm in an office mostly though so its not too bad - just starting to get uncomfortable sitting down all day.

 

[baby09]

I work in a school so will leave in October half term making me 36+4 I think x

 

[Mrs G]

Hi, agree with ww, you should have s risk assessment, they can't make you do a job which is putting your pregnancy at risk. In UK the rule protecting pregnant women are really good. If you go off sick, they will start your mat leave at 36w but it has to be sick pay before then.

Baby09, make sure you use the first day of the new half term as your leaving date so you get full pay for the half term holiday.

I worked til 38w with dd, had elective section at 39. Am struggling already so planning to leave at 36. I'm a teacher so have got 3 more weeks work, then 6 weeks hols then will go back for 3w before I leave.

Xx

 

[Embo78]

I'm taking my official mat leave at 38 weeks but I have five weeks holiday to use which I'll take before so I'll officially go off at 33 weeks

I suffer with SPD though so hopefully my pelvis will hold out. If not I'll have to go off sick before my AL commences.

 

[icklemonster]

I was going to work until I was 35 weeks, because I wanted a few weeks before baby comes to do finishing touches and make sure everything's ready...!But I've also got about 5 weeks holiday left, and I'm not allowed to carry any over to next year/when I come back, so with putting that on the front of my maternity leave, I'm going to finish around 30 weeks..!
It doesn't feel right really, lol! But in a way I'm also glad as its taking its toll already...

I'm pretty sure if you're in the UK, you are legally allowed to carry over your annual leave even if this isn't usual policy. Definitely read up on it and make your employer too. You can call ACAS for advice. I know my employer doesn't allow you to carry holiday usually, but they said legally they have to for maternity leave.

I'm going on annual leave from 35 weeks, then will start my maternity leave at 38+3. Last time I worked until 36 weeks, but this time I want to get DD settled in playschool.

 

[MrsJones1986]

I'm officially starting mat leave at 38 weeks but also have some holidays saved up so I'll finish 3 weeks earlier at 34+6 weeks

 

[Kerrie-x]

My plan was to work until 30 weeks.

I'm now 23 weeks and finished 2 weeks ago on sick.. I'm using my holidays (equates to 3 weeks on the hours I do) then getting a sick note for the last 2 weeks. I've a very weak immune system and have spent 3 out of the last 4 weeks in hospital so after being pressured from day 1 by the consultant, i've finally given in!

 

[bathbabe]

Im finding my second pregnancy alot harder and tiring too. I am leaving work at 33 weeks and my Mat leave kicks in at 35weeks. And tbh... I think im gunna struggle staying that long but I dont wanna 'waste' too much of my mat leave before baby gets here x

 

[IsabellaJayne]

I'm hoping to hold out until 36 weeks. I'm a healthcare assistant. Just praying my SPD doesn't become unbareable

 

[TeddysGirl]

I'm planning on taking it the start of November (I'm due 20th December) but I am lucky and work in a school so I can go back to work 1 week before the summer holidays 2016 and then have all the summer holidays off paid in full.

 

[Caelli86]

I'm a full time nurse and I'm going on my mat leave at 35 weeks, I'm a bit worried though as I'm carrying twins and I keep thinking I've made the wrong decision and I should have put in to go earlier. but my manager says if I struggle I can just go off sick so she told me big to worry to much

 

[littlesteph]

with my first I planned to go on mat leave at 37 weeks but ended up having to start at just before 36 weeks as had to be induced due to iugr and failing placenta
didn't work with my second as fell pregnant on mat leave and this time I plan to go on leave around 37 weeks but that all depends on how baby grows and what my consultant says. at the moment the plan is to get baby out at 39 weeks but he said theres are strong possibility that may change.

 

[bexbaby]

I had to take early mat leave with my first pregnancy due to problems during pregnancy so I was off from 28 weeks, which meant I only had 7 months paid leave with him and had to return to work earlier. This time I'm trying my best to stay in for as long as possible, but it's proving harder than I thought. In my first pregnancy I was a supervisor in a different bar/restaurant and they where great in regards of giving me breaks as and when I wanted them, letting me sit down when the pub wasn't busy etc... but in my new job (only been there since beginning December 2014) because the manager isn't always on site I'm left to be in control of everything! So I am always on my feet I get my lunch break for 30 minutes but that's about it. I'm a little weary of speaking to the manager about my leave as I haven't been there all that long, but I know he should most definitely understand where I'm coming from. It's either make my shifts easier for me of I'm gonna have to take my leave ASAP because I'm simply just to exhausted xx

 

[Iren_iren]

With my first i finished at 37 weeks (had one week holiday, so maternity leave started at 38)
This time i am planning to work from home 37-38 weeks, take holiday 38-39 weeks and then start maternity leave, so i could get pay for longer while i am with my baby
I have an office job, but very stressful, so if i find it too tough, i'll move all a week earlier

 

[highhopes19]

I've only really just gone back after being off long term with stress... I've been transferred to a new store and was so so looking forward to going back.

But I'm finding it so hard... I'm on my feet all day and I already have scoliosis and my back is throbbing after being on my feet even just for short periods of time! I didn't go in yesterday because the pain was that bad .

I think I was more crying yesterday out of frustration as I was really hoping to work quite late this time but looks like I won't be . I've got just under 4 weeks holiday to take before I start my actual leave x